Vacuum nozzle



April 4, 1939. J. F. H. FEcHTl-:NBURG I 2,153,457

VACUUM NozzLE Filed March l, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet l NIT? NN f @@@mwooooooodo @fast/gaz?? April 4, 1939. J. F. H. FECHTENBURG 2,153,457

' VACUUM NozzLE Filed March l, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I HNIHMIIMMIHHII APY 4 1939 J. F. H. FEcHTl-:NBURG- .2,153,457

vAcuUn NozzLE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March l, 1935 ,R711 M Erik.

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April 4, 1939. J. F.l FECHTNBURG vAcUUu NozzLE Filed March 1, V1935 v l e shes-shet 4 April 4, 1939- JfF. H. EECHTENBURG 2353,457

VACUUM NOZZLE Filed March l, .1935 6 Sheets-Sheet, 5

April 4, 1939 J. F. H'. FECHTENBURG 2,153,457

' vAcuuu NozzLE Filed March l, 1955, 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 MMM si 4a Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED sTATi-:s'

VACUUM NOZZLE Jrgen F.

n. rwnnbm, Cheltenham 'roanship, Montgomery County, Pa.

Application March 1, 1985, Serial No. 8,913

7 Claims. (CL 15l58) This invention relates to nozzles for vacuum cleaners, and especially to those used in the home.

oce, etc. for cleaning pile carpets, upholstered furniture, draperies, and the like.

One object of the present invention is to -provide a nozzle which will be highly efllcient in the picking up of cat, dog, or other animal hair, threads, lints, and other materials which have a tendency to cling to the pile or other surface 1u being cleaned, as by becoming entangled, for example, with fibers of the yarns of which the pile or other surface is composed.

More specifically, the present invention relates to the provision of vacuum cleaner nozzle with a brush disposed at one or both sides of the normal suction slot of the nozzle and arranged in such relation to the vacuum slot that when the nozzle is moved in one direction the ends of the bristles of the brush are projected down below the base or sledding surface of the nozzle into the pile, below the top surface thereof, to eiect a raking action through the outer free ends of the pile tufts, whereby any threads, hairs, or lintswhich may have become buried to some extent in the pile will be caught by the bristles of the brush and upon movement of the nozzle in the opposite direction such collected material will be delivered into the mouth of the vacuum slot of the nozzle by a bending or rocking action of the bristles causing the free ends of the bristles to move from the raking position remote to the slot to the delivery position immediately adjacent the slot. wherein the material collected by the bristles is liftedby the brush clear of the surface being cleaned, to be caught by the air rushing into the vacuum slot of the' nozzle.

Another object of the invention ls to provide a brush of the character above noted on each of the opposite sides of the vacuum slot whereby 40 while one brush is effecting a raking action of the -surface as the nozzle is moved in one direction the other of said brushes is effecting a delivery action of material previously collected thereby; and wherein the movement of the nozzle in the opposite direction will change the relation of the two brushes so that the one having just completed a raking action moves into the delivery position and the one having completed the delivery operation is moved into the raking position. .5o Another object of the invention is to construct the nozzle in such a manner that the hair, threads, lint, or other material over which the nozzle is moved cannot become entangled in thebristles of the brush. Another object of the invention is to construct the nozzle in such a manner that the air drawn into the vacuum slot of the suction nomle must rst pass along and around the brush, longitudinally of the bristles thereof, whereby a selfcleaning brush is provided.

Another object of the invention is to construct the nozzle with a draft slot adjacent and parallel to the suction slot with its upper air intake end disposed well above the surface being cleaned whereby clean air is at all times drawn downl0 wardly through the draft slot toward the suction slot, and to mount the brush in the down draft slot foreiecting self-cleaning of the brush.

Anotherobject oi' the invention is to provide mechanism whereby for normal cleaning, for the l5 removal oi dust, grit and material other than hair, threads, or lints, the brush or brushes at each or either side of the suction slot in the nozzle may be readily moved to an inoperative position wherein the ends of the bristles of the- 20 brush are withdrawn to a non-raking position above the plane of the sledding surface of the nozzle.

Another object of the invention is to construct and mount the brushes in such a manner that each brush and the mounting therefor may be readily removed from the nozzle as a unit.

' Another object of the invention is to construct the brush and mounting in such a manner that so the extent of projection of the bristles of the brush beyond the sledding surface of the nozzle may be readily adjusted to control the extent of penetration of the bristles into thel pile of the surface being cleaned and to permit gradual `out- 35 ward feeding of the bristles to an effective raking position as the ends of the bristles wear away over an extended period of service.

Other objects of the invention and the novel features of the construction by which such objects are attained will be fully disclosed hereinaften reference being had to the accompanying drawings; of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in sectionof a nozzle embodying the principles of the present 45 invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, and showing the action of the bristles at the opposite sides of .the vaculmi slot as the nozzle is moved in one direction;

Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 2 and showing the action of the brushes as the nozzle is moved in the opposite direction;

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; u

Fis. is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the feature of independent adjustability of the pair of brushes to operative and inoperative positions with respect to the sledding surface of the nome;

Fig. 'I is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 1 1, Fig. 6;

' Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 6 illustrating the feature of simultaneous operation of the brushes to and from an inoperative position within the nozzle:

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a detail of the construction shown in Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 1l respectively illustrate different ways of removably securing the brush units in position within the nozzle;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification of the invention for the purpose of providing amore acute delivery action of the brushes;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional elevation.

taken on the line I2-II, Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of that type of nozzle shown in Figs. l to 13 inclusive and arranged to be operated by means of a vacuum type handle, with a swivel connection between the handle and the nozzle whereby free sledding action of the nozzle is provided over the surface being cleaned and whereby the handle may be turned with respect to the nomle for projecting the nozzle under low pieces of furniture, etc.:

Fig. 15 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of the invention wherein the nozzle is connected directly to the vacuum machine;

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line IB-Il, Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating one end of the nozzle shown in Figs. 15 and 16;

Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional elevation illustrating a nozzle made in accordance with the principles of the present invention and adapted particularly for use in cleaning upholstered furniture, draperies, etc.;

Fig. 19 is a sectional plan view taken on the line I8-I9, Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 2li-20. Fig. 19;

Fig. 2l is a view similar to Fig. 18 and embodying the acute bristle-bending feature similar to the illustration of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 22 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 22-22, Fig. 21.

In the simpler form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the nozzle I is of more or less usual construction as a whole, being of'the relatively elongated suction slot type but differing from the usual construction of this type of nozzle in that the base 2 of the nozzle is considerably wider than bases of the usual vacuum nozzles.

The base 2 in the present case is provided with a central longitudinal base or sledding surface 2 which is substantially flat. 'I'he base 2 includes f relatively wide front and back lips 4 and 5 respectively having underneath or sledding surfaces 8 and 1 which are disposed at opposite angles respectively and with respect to the plane of the central flat portion 2, whereby free sledding action of the nozzle over the surface being cleaned is made possible.

Intermediate the lips l and 5, the top side of the base 2 of the nozzle is provided with a longitudinally extending rib 8, adjacent each of the tangular boss 9 and projecting vertically from the central portion thereof, longitudinally and transversely speaking, is a more or less triangular rib extension I0 which is aligned with the end ribs 8 and projects vertically from the top surface of the boss 9.

The rear side of the top central rib I0 of the nozzle is provided with a substantially cylindrical boss II, the axis ofwhich in the preferred form of the invention is disposed substantially parallel to the flat plane of the central portion 3 of the sledding surface of the nozzle.

Centrally disposed with respect to the sledding surface of the nozzle and extending substantially from end to end thereof is the vacuum suction slot I2, the depth of which varies from its minimum depth in the ribs 8, 8 adjacent each of the opposite ends of the nozzle and increasing gradually toward the central portion 9 of the nozzle, as indicated at I3, I3, whereupon the base of the slot I2 assumes a rather acute angle at each of its sides within the vertical central rib portion I0, as indicated at I4, I 4 in Fig. 5, said slot centrally terminating at and in and communicating directly with the circular axial cavity IIv of the rearwardly extending boss II. y

At either the front, back or at both sides of and parallel to the vacuum slot I2 of the nozzle I and located within the central rectangular boss 8 thereof, said nozzle is provided with an elongated draft slot I1 which within the central portion of the nozzle is separated from the vacuum slot by a relatively thin vertical wall I8.

The slots I1, I'I extend completely through the nozzle I, vertically from the flat plane of the central portion 3 of the sledding surface of the nozzle to the upper surface I8 of the central rectangular boss 9. l

Normally the slots I'I, I1 provide for what may be termed a concentrated down draft for the nozzle, whereby, during normal operation of the device the air is drawn and rushes down through the slots Il, I'I and around the lower edges of the walls I8, I8 and into the vacuum slot I2 of the nozzle, whereby grit and tramped-in tobacco ashes, etc. is more eiliciently removed from the pile of the carpet or other fabric being cleaned. Such concentrated down draft, however, will not in itself effectively remove animal hair. threads and lints, or other material which has a tendency to mat with or become entangled in the fibers of the fabric and in order to make the nozzle eicient in this respect the present invention embodies the feature of providing suitable brushes in one or the other or both ofthe slots Il, I 1, with the lower ends of the bristles exposed preferably a very slight distance below the flat portion 3 of the sledding surface of the nozzle whereby the ends of said bristles project just a slight distance into and below the surface of the pile of the fabric being cleaned and thereby effect a gentle raking action of the free outer ends of the pile of the fabric being cleaned.

'I'he present invention further contemplates the mounting of the brush or brushes in such a manner that the degree of the raking action may be minutely varied to meet varying conditions and different materials encountered, although for all practical purposes it has been found that a projection of the bristles to an extent not. ex-

ceeding E of an inch is highly efficient and is capable of removing such material as goat hair which has been trampled into the pile of the fabric. Goat hair, by those familiar with the art, is considered to be the hardest material to remove from a pile fabric.

In order that the brush or brushes may be removed from one or the other or both of the slots I1, |1 easily and at any time desired, to take advantage of the full down draft'provided by the slots I1, I1, when no particularly clinging material is being encountered in cleaning, the brushes are mounted in readily removable carriers 20, 20 respectively.

Each of the carriers 20 in the preferred form of the invention comprises a single side wall 2| adapted to extend substantially the full length of the slot I1 into which lthe carrier 20 is to be fitted, said walls 2|, 2| being adapted for positioning at that side of the slot I1 in each instance which is remote from the wall I8 lying between the draft slot I1 and the vacuum slot |2 of the nozzle.

At each end of the carrier 20 and projecting laterally from lthe wall 2| thereof is a relatively broad lug .22. Intermediate the lugs 22, 22 is a series of parallel laterally projecting fins or ribs 23 which extend from the Wall 2| of the carrier vnozzle are disposed in a plane slightly inward from the plane of the iiat portion 3 of the sledding surface of the nozzle, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and the lower inner edges of the fins or ribs 23 are provided with shouldered corners 24 which pass around and vengage the under surface of the wall III.

Disposed in each oi.' the cavities 25, which are formed by and between adjacent ribs 23, 23, a

number of bristles 26 are grouped together to form a brush unit, within each of the said cavities, each unit being relatively independent of its neighbor.

While the number of bristles constituting each brush unit may vary as desired, in actual practice it has been found that a relatively small number of bristles in each of the cavities 25 will suffice to produce high eiilciency insofar as removal of hair, thread, or lint is concerned. The smaller the number of bristles the smaller the possibilities of material becoming entangled in the bristles.

Entanglement of hairs and other materials in the bristles, particularly hairs, is further prevented by the fact that such hairs will normally span one or more of the spaces 25 by resting against the lower surfaces of two or more of the ribs 23 and will thereby be prevented from beingI pushed up into the bristles of the brush, as by downward pressure applied to the nozzle during the cleaning operation.

In addition to the functioning of the ribs 23 in preventing material being pressed up into the bristles of the brush the down draft o-f the air rushing into the nozzle through `the slots I1, which causes the air to travel at high velocity in the downward direction longitudinally of and around the bristles of the brush, from the upper back portion of the brush toward the lower free ends of the bristles, strips such material from the projecting ends of the bristles and from the lower surface of the ribs and carries the hairs or other material around the lower edges of the walls I8 and up into the vacuum slot I2. Thus the brush is made a self-cleaning proposition.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bristles are mounted in the slots I1 toward or against the outer side walls thereof, that is, immediately adjacent the walls 2| of the carriers 20, 20 respectively, and due to the slight projection of the lower ends of the bristles below the flat surface 3 of the nozzle when the nozzle is moved in one direction, for example, in the direction indicated by the arrow a in Fig. 2, the lower ends of the bristles of the brush in the rear slot I1 will lle flatly against the wall 2| of the carrier in said slot and be stify supported thereby, whereby the slight projecting ends of the bristles will be prevented from bending and sliding freely over the surface of the fabric being cleaned and will be held substantially perpendicular to the plane of the fiat portion 3 of the nozzl'e, whereby the raking effect is obtained.

During the above noted movement of the nozzle the bristles of the brush in the front slot I1 are free to move, ilex or rock within the cavities 25 in which they are respectively conned. which causes said bristles to move away from the wall 2| of the carrier in the front slot I1. In such flexing or bending the lower ends of said bristles move inwardly to a position below the plane of the sledding surface 3 in a position immediately `adjacent the wall |8 which is disposed between the front slot and the vacuum slot I2 and in such bending and raising of the bristles any material, hairs, threads, or lints which have been caught or collected by the bristles in the front slot during a previous backward movement of the nozzle in the direction of the arrow b, Fig. 3, are delivered directly to the mouth of the vacuum slot |2 of the nozzle and the draft passing downwardly through the front slot |1 and around the lower edge of the wall I8 between said front slot I1 and the vacuum slot I2 will strip such material from the bristles of the brush and carry it up into the vacuum nozzle as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

In order to prevent hair or other material which may be in suspension in the air surrounding the nozzle from being drawn down into the down draft slots I1 and thereby becoming clogged in the upper part of the brush each carrier 20 is provided with a substantiallyhorizontal top wall 2l' which is provided with small perforations 28 which permit free access of the air and at the same time prevent suspended material from passing down into the slot.

The ribs 23 extendI up into the slots I1 a substantial distance above the under surface of the wall I8 of the nozzle and between the upper edges of said ribs and the under surface of the top wall 21 of the carrier the bristles of the brush are secured in a back bar 30 which, as illustrated in Fig. l for example, is of a more or less corrugated nature, permitting free downward passage of the air through the slot I1.

Each of the end lugs 22,22 of each carrier 20 is provided with a recess 29 into which the opposite ends of the back bar 30 extend. The opposite ends of the back bar 30 are bored and threaded for the reception of supporting and adjusting screws 3|, 3|, each of which has a plain end 32, having bearing in lug 22 below the cavity 29, and an upper non-thread portion 33 immediately adjacent the underside of the head 34 of said screw, which also has bearing in the lug 22 above the cavity 29.

Intermediate the top side of the back bar 30 andy the under side of the upper bearing for the screw 3|, each screw is provided with a compression spring 35 which tends at all times to force the back bar downwardly within the carrier 20,

lol

keeping the under side of the head 34 firmly seated against the upper surface of the carrier 20, while the plain ends 32 and 33 of each screw are free to slide axially in their bearings in said carrier. Thus the springs 35 perform the double function of projecting the bristles of the brush outwardly, upon turning of the screws 3| in one .direction, and of establishing rigidity, against vibration or rattling of the brush backs during operation of the device.

In order to provide for the readily removability of the carriers 20 and the brushes carried thereby from the slot I1 in each instance, the end wall of the slot and the end wall of the carrier are provided with cooperating shoulders 36 and 31 which limit the upward movement of the carrier in and with respect to the slot I1. Such upward movement of the carrier within the slot I1 may be providedv by various mechanisms and in the present instance a simple spring-pressed plunger arrangement comprising a ball 38 operable in a cavity 39 formed in the boss 9 and cooperating with and bearing against an angular wall 40 formed in thecarrier 20, effects a camming action which tends at all times to retain the carrier in the slot.

With the above noted construction the carrier 20 may be readily removed from the slot I1 by merely pressing downwardly against the upper surface of the carrier, whereby the angular surface 4U produces a camming action against the spring-pressed ball 38, at each end of the carrier, forcing said balls inwardly against the action of their springs 4I to the planes of the end walls of the slot which permits the carrier to slip freely out of the slot I1.

Obviously, reinsertion of the carrier 20 may be readily effected by merely pressing the carrier 20 upwardly in the slot I1 until the balls 38 at the opposite ends of the carrier snap under the angular surfaces 40, 40 in the opposite ends respectively of the carrier.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modification of the above notedy mechanism, wherein the carrier 20 at each of its opposite ends is provided with a spring latch 42 having a hook end 43 arranged to snap over the top surface I9 of the boss 9 of the nozzle immediately adjacent the opposite ends of the slot I1.

In that form of the device shown in Fig. 10,

, the carriers are rigidly, though removably, se-

cured in the nozzle by means of screws 44; and in that form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 the spring-pressed balls 38 are carried by the carrier 20 and operate against angular camming surfaces formed in the end walls of the slots in which the carriers are disposed.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the brushes may be moved to an inoperative position, that is, to a position inwardly disposed with respect to the sledding surface of the nozzle, Without removal of the carriers from the nozzle and for this purpose the perforated top wall of the carrier is made separate and in the form of a bar 45 having a cam surfaceA 46 adjacent each of its opposite ends which cooperate with similar cam or wedge surfaces 41, 41 formed on the upper surface of the carrier.

Adjacent each cam surface 46 each bar 45 is provided with a longitudinal slot 48 through which the upper non-threaded portions 33 of the screws 3| project. Under the head 34 of the screw 3|, in each instance, is provided a slide block 43 which rides on the upper surface of the cam bar 45 and is provided with a key lug 50 ding surface thereof.

which fits into the slot 48 and thereby prevents relative rotation between the slide block and the cam bar, around the axis of the screw. The cam-bar in .each instance is provided with a knob I by which the cam bar may be moved longitudinally.

Longitudinal movement of the cam bar relative to the carrier causes the cam' or wedge surfaces 46, 46 on said bar to ride up on the cam surfaces 41, 41 of the carrier whereby the bar 45 is bodily raised vertically while being maintained substantially parallel to the base of the nozzle.

Such vertical movement of the bar 45, through the slide blocks 49 and the heads 34 of the screws 3|, effects an axial movement of said screws simultaneously and due to the threaded engagement of these screws with the back bar 30 oi. the brush the brush isv raised bodily to an extent sufficient to Withdraw the lower free ends of the bristles of the brush to a position inwardly of the nozzle with respect to the plane of the sled- Such utilization of the screws 3| for moving the brushes to an inoperative position, while remaining in the nozzle, in no way affects the function of the screws to adjust the brush relative to the carrier and to the sledding surface of the nozzle for obtaining any desired degree of projection of the ends of the bristles of the brush relative to the sledding surface of the nozzle as and when the ends of the bristles wear down.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the cam bars 45 are individual to the carriers and brushes with which they are respectively associated and the carriers as a whole and including the individual cam bars are interchangeable in the front and rear slots I1 whereby it is unnecessary for a housewife to be particularly careful in replacing the carriers in the slots after having once removed the carriers from the slots to take advantage of the full benefit yof the down draft through the slots in the cleaning of grit, ashes, and other substances from the carpet. In the same manner the carriers 20 in that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are interchangeable.

In that form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the cam bars 45a, 45a in the front and back slots I1 respectively are adapted for simultaneous op-4 eration, rather than independent operation and for this purpose said bars are joined at one end by a cross member 55 in and above which a single operating knob 5Ia is mounted.

In order to provide for removal of the carriers 20' from the slots I1 in that form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the slide blocks 50a are provided with lateral slots 56 communicating with the openings 51 through which the screws 3| normally extend. The slots 48a, 48a. in the cam bars 45a, 45a respectively are of such width as to permit passage of the heads 34 of the screws 3| therethrough. In order to remove the carriers 20 from the slots I1, raising of the screws 3| a suflicient distance to bring the lower surface of the slide blocks 50a above the upper surface of the cam bars 45a, Will suflice to permit said slide blocks to be slipped laterally from beneath the slot l1, at each side of the vacuum slot l2, and

spaced inwardly from the sledding surface 3 of the nozzle, a Wire or other relatively small abutment element is provided which extends longitudinally of the carrier parallel to the Walls I8 and 2l of the nozzle and carrier respectively.

When the nozzle is moved in one direction transverse to the vacuum slot i2 the carrier 2B forms an abutment for the lower ends of the bristles of the brush whereby they are held stimy in their raking position as above noted.

When the direction of the movement of the 1 nozzle is reversed the inherent exibility of the bristles of the brush permits said bristles to flex toward the wall it of the nozzle and to slide over the surface being cleaned. During this eringoi the bristles said bristles engage the wire or rod t@ which functions as an abutment i'or said bristles on va line spaced above the free ends of the bristles whereby said bristles edect a pivotal action aroundA the wire or rod t@ on a relatively short radius, which causes the material-carrying ends of the bristles to rise more quickly and more effectively from the surface being cleaned to cleliver the gathered material to the mouth ci' the suction slot i2 at the lower edge oi the wall it which, as above noted, is spaced above the sled ding surface t of the nozzle.

In order that a new brush may be readily placed in the carrier, when a brush becomes worn to a considerable extent and thereby shortened to an extent where it is no longer or use, the wire or other abutment t@ is made removable *with respect to the carrier so that the bristles oi' the brush units may be placed easily within the cavities 25 between the ribs it on the carrier without having to td such bristles down between the abutment t@ d the wall di of the carrier. v

In big. 13, the abutment iid is shown asvbeing in the fo ci an inherently resilient wire, such as a piece of spring or piano wire. The lugs 22 at the opmsite en of the carrier are provided with horizontal openings into which the ends oi the wire may be rely placed as by bowing the wire lotudinally, whereaiter by releasing the wire, after the opposite ends thereof are aligned with holes di, ti in the carrier said wire will automatically assume a rectilinear position, and in order to prevent lateral iiexing ci the abut ment wire @il relative to the walls l@ and 2i the upper edges of the ribs 2S are notched, as illustrated at t2, to receive the wire when said wire assumes said rectilinear state.

In that form of the device shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 1'?, the vacuum slot 65 is dened by parallel side walls 66 connected by transversely extending end walls t1. The outer surfaces of the side walls t6 are inclined in opposite directions, as indicated at 68, and the bottom edges of the side walls are disposed slightly above the extreme bottom surface of the nozzle.

In this instance, the nozzle is provided with ribs 'extending laterally from and formed integral with .the side kwalls 88 of the nozzle, as clearly illustrated at 10 in Fig. 15, and at each end of the nozzle, and aligned with the ribs 10, 1,0,isa1ug 1I.

Spaced vertically above the upper edges of the ribs 10 and lugs 1I and formed integral with the side and end walls 68 and 61 of the nozzle opening is a horizontally extending rib or plate 12 which completely surrounds the nozzle.

'The lugs 1| and plate 12 aord bearings for yscrews 13, 13 which correspond to the brushcontrolling screws Il above referred to.

Threaded on to each screw r13, intermediate the lug 1| and the plate 12 is a block 1I. Pro-v iecting laterally from each block. is a trunnion 15 on or in which one end of the brush back 16 y y is pivotally mounted. Intermediate the perforated plate 'l2 and the upper surface of the block 14 and surrounding each of the adjusting screws 'i3 is a spring 11 which functions in the manner of the screws 3i as above noted for raising and ,loweringthe tips of the bristles of the brush with respect to the lower surface of the nozzle.

One or both ends oi each oi the brush back bars it is provided with a lever, lug or other suitable lateral extension ld and, at the opposite ends respectively oi the nozzle, connecting the levers it, lid of the two bars le, it at opposite sides of the nozzle, are links iti, 19, by which rocking or the back bars it, it of the brushes is simultaneously enacted.

Surrounding the plate l2, the lugs 1l, and th outwardly extending ribs 1li, is a substantially rectangular band or casing d@ which encloses the brushes and provides the down. draft slots ti by which cleaning oi the brushes is eected in the same manner as described above.

In this instance, instead oi depending upon the flexing of the bristles to move the lower ends thereof from the .-i oposition in the mer above noted, the brushes at the opposite sides o1 the" nozzle are rocked ily about the axes oi-the back bars 1t, 16, which, as indicated in Fig. 15, causes the brush` on one side of the nozzle to abut against the outer removable wall d@ of. the nozzle, at one side thereof, and the lower ends of the brush at the opposite side of the nozzle to abut against the inclined side @t of the side wall tt of the nozzle,

y wherein the ends of the bristles of the last mentioned brush are raised clear oi the surface being cleaned.

The removable wal! structure @il may be secured in place by any suitable means, such ior example as by screws @2, the. heads of which may be located within a groove tt completely ciroventihg the nozzle and in which may be provided a bumper ring te, whereby marring of furniture contacted by the nozzle is prevented.

In the illustration of Fig. 15 the vacuum nozzle is provided with a tapering head t5, the upper edges of which converge toward a hollow neck t@ fo part of the vacuum engine 81 which latter may be provided with suitable supporting wheels 88 which are adapted to rldethe surface being cleaned and which, if desired, may be made adjustable relative to said `engine whereby the position and/or sledding of the nozzle with respect to or on the surface being cleaned may be governed as desired. s

'I'he plate 12 is perforated as illustrated at 39 to permit free passage of the air into and downwardly through the down draft slots 8l formed by and between the walls 66 and 80.

position to the ldelivery a In that form of the invention shown in Figa. 18, 19 and 20, the nozzle is relatively short and the bristles are carried in and by a readily removable casing which ay be applied to and removed fromv the nozzle/las occasion arises.

The vacuum slot Il of the nozzle in this instance is defined by side walls 9i, 9| and end walls 92, 92 of the nozzle. 'I'he brush carrier in this instance comprises side walls Il, 93 and end walls Il, Il which latter-bear directly againstv the end walls 92, 92 of the nozzle and function as guides for positioning the brush carrier on the nozzle. 'I'he walls 93, 93 of the brush carrier are spaced laterally from the side walls 9|, 9| of the nozzle.

The brush carrier is provided with a perforated top wall Il at each side of\the nozzle which also assists in guiding the brush carrier into operative position on andwith respect to the nomle.

The lower end of the brush carrier is guided into position on the lower end of the nozzle by the inner edges of the brush-separating ribs 9B, 99 which engage the oppositely flaring surfaces 91, 91 formed on and adjacent the lower edges of the side walls 9|, 9| of the nozzle.

At each end and at each side of the nozzle and aligned with ribs 98, 96 is a lug 91 which anords pivotal bearing for the lower end of an adjusting screw 99, the upper end and lhead 99 of which has bearing in the perforated top plate 9 5 of the brush carrier. The screws 99 on each oi'\the opposite sides of the carrier are threaded through the back bar IUI of a brush whose bristles pass through the. cavities formed between the ribs 9B, 96 and a spring lill encircles each of the screws 98 between the top of the back bar Il l and the under side of the top plate 95. i e brush carrier is resiliently secured to the nozzle.

by spring clips il! which are secured to the brush carrier and have free ends seated in recesses |03 formed in the sidewalls 9i, 9| ofthe The brushes IM, IM and the backs IBI, thereof are positioned against the outer walls 93, ll oi' the brush carrier respectively in down draft slots |09, lliprovided by and between the nozzle walls 9|, 9| and brush carrier walls 93, 93.

'I'he operation of this form of the device is substantially the sameas described with respect to the operation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 21 and 22, the abutment for the bristles of the brush disposed at an elevation above the.

ends of the bristles of the brush to provide for short radius exing of the brush bristles as and for the purposesabove described, in this form of the invention takes the form of a screw |06 which may be readily removed to provide for easy replacement of the brushes.

As shown in Figs. i and 14, thelhandle or wand H0 is disposed at an angie to the surface being cleaned and the axis of the handle intersects the plane of said surface well behind the nozzle, thus the nozzle at all times receives a push-pull( action on a line substantially parallel to the surface being cleaned by the nozzle and no digging in of the forward or rear edges of the nozzle is possible. This is also assisted by the wide lips fore and aft on the nozzle which serve an additional function of providing more or less of a seal around the suction slot of the nozzle which necessitates the air entering said' suction slot to be drawn down through the draft slot or slots I 1.

The down-draft in addition to keeping the brush clean causes the air to pass rapidly around the lower edge of the wall vbetween the down-draft alsa-stv slot and the vacuum slot in each instance and in so doing the air gets under the dirt or threads on the pile and effectively lifts the same into the suction slot of the nozzle.

wand. Theportions H2 and H3 are axially aligned and adapted for relative rotation with respect to each other by means of a swivel Joint lil of any desired construction, which will cause the nozzle to ride uniformly, over the surface being cleaned, from end to end of the nozzle and further permit the handle to be swung down to pass under low furniture, etc., still without tilting the nozzle in either direction whereby the sledding surface of the nozzle will at all times remain substantially parallel and slide freely over the surface being cleaned.

I claim:

1. A cleaner nozzle having a sledding surface provided with a suction slot and a down draft air slot arranged in parallel closely adjacent relation to each other at the lower ends thereof and with the upper end of the draft slot open to the atmosphere, a brush located in said draft slot, and transverse partitions in the draft slot with the lower edges thereof substantially flush with said sledding surface.

2. A cleaner nozzle having a sledding surface provided with a suction slot and a down draft air slot and wherein the upper end of the draft slot is open'to the atmosphere, a longitudinal partition between said slots with the lower edge thereof disposed above said sledding surface, transversepartitions in the draft slot with the lower edges thereof substantially flush with said sledding surface, and a brush comprising a plurality of bristle units respectively arranged between said transverse partitions.

3. A cleaner nozzle provided with a suction slot and` a down draft air slot arranged in parallel closely adjacent relation to each other at the vlower ends thereof and with the upper end of the draft slot open to the atmosphere, a brush carrier removably mounted in the draft slot and comprising a longitudinal side wall, laterally spaced ribs extending transversely of the draft slot from said side wall, a brush mounted in the carrier and comprising a back bar disposed above the transverse ribs and bristles projecting downwardly from said bar between said ribs, lugs at the opposite ends of the carrier above and below said back bar, and adjusting screws mounted in said lugs and having threaded engagement with the opposite ends of said back bar respectively.

4. A cleaner nozzle provided with asuction slot and a down draft air slot arranged in parallel closely adjacent relation to each other atthe lower ends thereof and with the upper end of wardly from said bar between said ribs, lugs at' the opposite ends of the carrier above and below said back bar, adjusting screws mounted in said lugs and having threaded engagement with the opposite ends of said back bar'respectively, and resilient means between one side of the back bar slot from said side wall, a brush mounted in the carrier and comprising a back bar disposed above the transverse ribs and bristles projecting downy wardly from said bar between said ribs, lugs at the opposite ends of the carrier above and below said back bar, adjusting screws mounted in said lugs and having threaded engagement with the opposite-ends of said back bar respectively, resilientmeans between the top face of the back bar and the-under side of the upper lugs tending to move theibrush downwardly at all times, and a cam barslidable longitudinally of the carrier and having Voperative engagement withthe adjusting screws for moving the brush bodily in the upward direction.

6. A cleaner nozzle provided with a suction slot and a down draft air slot arranged in parallel closely adjacent relation to each other at the lower ends thereof and with the upper end of the draft slot open to the atmosphere, a brush carrier removably mounted in' the draft slot and comprising a longitudinal side wall, laterally` spaced ribs extending transversely of the draft slot from said side wall, a brush mounted in the carrier and comprising a back bar disposed above the -transverse ribs and bristles'p'roje'cting downwardly from said bar between said ribs, lugs at the opposite ends of the carrier above andrbelow said back bar, adjusting screws mounted in `said lugs and having threaded engagement with the opposite ends of said back bar respectively, and a longitudinal top wall extending between said end lugs and perforated for sieving the air drawn into the draft slot.

7. A cleaner nozzle provided'with a suction slot and a down draft air slot arranged in parallel closely adjacent relation to each other at the lower ends thereof and with the upper end of said draft slot Aopen to the atmosphere, a brush carrier removably mounted in the draft slot-and comprising a longitudinal side wall, laterally spaced ribs extending transversely of the draft slot from said side Wall, a brush mound in the carrier and comprising a back bar disposed above the transverse ribs and bristles projecting downwardly from said bar between said ribs, lugs at the opposite ends of the carrier above and below said back bar, adjusting screws mounted in said lugs and having threaded engagement with the opposite ends of said back bar respectively, resilient means between the top face of the back bar and the under side ofthe upper lugs tending to move the brush downwardly at all times, and a cam bar slidable longitudinally of the carrier and having operative engagement with the adjusting screws for moving the brush bodily in the upward direction, said cam bar constituting a closure wall for the upper end of the draft slot and `being perforated for sieving' the air drawn into the draft slot. A

JRGEN F. H. FECHTENBURG. 

